Editor's note: Yahoo Sports expert Kevin Iole resumes his year-end honors Monday with the 25 Most Influential People in boxing. The schedule for the rest of the awards:
Dec. 9: Boxing Person of the Year
Dec. 16: 25 Most Influential People in Boxing
Dec. 23: Prospects of the Year
Dec. 24: Trainer of the Year
Dec. 25: Fighter of the Year
Dec. 26: Fight of the Year
Dec. 30: Up-and-Coming Fighters to Watch
One of the problems with choosing a list of the most powerful and/or influential persons in a given entity changes depending upon the viewpoint.
In boxing, it's difficult because there are so many layers to the sport's success. There's the in-ring competition, there's the in-arena atmosphere, there's the television production, the marketing, the publicity, the sponsorships and many other areas that ultimately impact the final product presented to the fan.
We've compiled a most powerful/influential list in boxing for Yahoo Sports since 2008. More than ever, when we've compiled this list we've thought of the fans. Any person we've considered for inclusion, we ask two questions: How did this person impact what the fan watched this year, and how successful was he/she in doing the job.
Some of the names are familiar; many others are not. But all of them played a significant role in the final product that was presented to the fans in 2013.
And so, with that, here are the choices, in descending order, of the 25 most powerful/influential people in boxing in 2013:
25. Fred Sternburg, president, Sternburg Communications – Sternburg is Manny Pacquiao's personal publicist and handles event publicity for Top Rank. He is clever, thoughtful and a tireless worker.
Twitter: @toofred
24. Al Bernstein, broadcaster, Showtime & The Boxing Channel – A 2013 Hall of Fame inductee, Bernstein is a tireless advocate for the sport who has become more outspoken against those who bash boxing. He's easy to listen to, is always fair and has an increasing audience thanks to Showtime's growth.
Twitter: @AlBernstein
23. Edmund Chu and Sheng Li, managers, SECA Ltd. – SECA manages two-time Olympic gold medalist Zou Shiming. Without Shiming, Top Rank would never have been able to put fights in Macau, China. Chu and Li have great contacts in China and understand the value of marketing and promotion for their fighters.
Twitter: @EdmundYChu
22. Kelly Swanson, president, Swanson Communications – Swanson is the personal publicist for Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Bernard Hopkins, and does publicity for Golden Boy fights. She was largely responsible for pulling off the sensational promotion for the fight between Mayweather and Canelo Alvarez.
Twitter: @kellyswanson1
21. Mark Taffet, senior vice president, HBO Sports – Taffet is best known for his role in running HBO's pay-per-view fights, but with Mayweather leaving, HBO only had two PPV bouts in 2013. But Taffet is responsible for the tone and tenor of much of HBO's shoulder program, such as "Faceoff," which helps increase boxer visibility.
No. 16 Jim Lampley (L) and No. 7 Ken Hershman pose for a photo. (Getty)
20. Brad Goodman, matchmaker, Top Rank – The joke about Goodman is that he doesn't know who the vice president of the U.S. is, but he knows the best four-round fighters in Belize.
19. Bruce Trampler, matchmaker, Top Rank – Trampler is the gold standard for matchmakers and is justifiably in the Hall of Fame. Many great fighters of the modern era, including Oscar De La Hoya and Floyd Mayweather Jr., owe much to Trampler for the way he matched them on the way up.
Twitter: @BruceTrampler
18. Eric Gomez, matchmaker, Golden Boy Promotions – Gomez is the man who makes the majority of the fights fans see on Showtime. He knows how to put together fighters who will bring out the best in each other and that makes great television.
Twitter: @makeawar
17. Egis Klimas, manager – Klimas manages WBO light heavyweight champon Sergey Kovalev and IBF featherweight champion Evgeny Gradovich, but his true star is Vasyl Lomachenko, the two-time gold medalist and superstar in the making. Klimas has a lot of talent up and down his roster. He's already a big player and will increase in scope soon.
16. Jim Lampley, broadcaster, HBO Sports – Lampley is HBO's long-time play-by-play man, and recently added a show about boxing, "The Fight Game," to his work. Lampley is the most-heard announcer and thus can shape the way fans see the fights. His show has much potential, but needs to be knocked up a few levels and Lampley has to abandon the reliance on the same few interview subjects to make the show more compelling and worthwhile.
15. James Prince, manager – Prince is the manager of a number of fighters, including Andre Ward. Prefers to stay out of the limelight, but is effective and does well for his clients.
14. Michael Koncz, manager – Koncz is Manny Pacquiao's chief adviser, and saw one of his long-time dreams come true in November when Top Rank promoted a Pacquiao pay-per-view in China.
Manny Pacquiao's fight in Macau was very popular on an international level. (Getty)
13. Cameron Dunkin, manager – Dunkin has a keen eye for talent and a deep crew, topped by Timothy Bradley and Brandon Rios.
Twitter: @MickeyFelix
12. Manny Pacquiao, boxer – Pacquiao's influence in the business is diminishing, as he isn't quite the star he once was, but he remains a powerful figure and you can bet that Top Rank and HBO executives jump when he speaks.
Twitter: @MannyPacquiao
11. Ed Tracy, CEO, Sands China – Tracy gave the go-ahead to spend significant money with Top Rank to bring boxing to China. The result was three shows in 2013, culminating with a Manny Pacquiao pay-per-view bout in November. There will be regular fights in Sands China casinos in 2014 and beyond and Tracy is at the forefront of it.
Dec. 9: Boxing Person of the Year
Dec. 16: 25 Most Influential People in Boxing
Dec. 23: Prospects of the Year
Dec. 24: Trainer of the Year
Dec. 25: Fighter of the Year
Dec. 26: Fight of the Year
Dec. 30: Up-and-Coming Fighters to Watch
One of the problems with choosing a list of the most powerful and/or influential persons in a given entity changes depending upon the viewpoint.
In boxing, it's difficult because there are so many layers to the sport's success. There's the in-ring competition, there's the in-arena atmosphere, there's the television production, the marketing, the publicity, the sponsorships and many other areas that ultimately impact the final product presented to the fan.
We've compiled a most powerful/influential list in boxing for Yahoo Sports since 2008. More than ever, when we've compiled this list we've thought of the fans. Any person we've considered for inclusion, we ask two questions: How did this person impact what the fan watched this year, and how successful was he/she in doing the job.
Some of the names are familiar; many others are not. But all of them played a significant role in the final product that was presented to the fans in 2013.
And so, with that, here are the choices, in descending order, of the 25 most powerful/influential people in boxing in 2013:
25. Fred Sternburg, president, Sternburg Communications – Sternburg is Manny Pacquiao's personal publicist and handles event publicity for Top Rank. He is clever, thoughtful and a tireless worker.
Twitter: @toofred
24. Al Bernstein, broadcaster, Showtime & The Boxing Channel – A 2013 Hall of Fame inductee, Bernstein is a tireless advocate for the sport who has become more outspoken against those who bash boxing. He's easy to listen to, is always fair and has an increasing audience thanks to Showtime's growth.
Twitter: @AlBernstein
23. Edmund Chu and Sheng Li, managers, SECA Ltd. – SECA manages two-time Olympic gold medalist Zou Shiming. Without Shiming, Top Rank would never have been able to put fights in Macau, China. Chu and Li have great contacts in China and understand the value of marketing and promotion for their fighters.
Twitter: @EdmundYChu
22. Kelly Swanson, president, Swanson Communications – Swanson is the personal publicist for Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Bernard Hopkins, and does publicity for Golden Boy fights. She was largely responsible for pulling off the sensational promotion for the fight between Mayweather and Canelo Alvarez.
Twitter: @kellyswanson1
21. Mark Taffet, senior vice president, HBO Sports – Taffet is best known for his role in running HBO's pay-per-view fights, but with Mayweather leaving, HBO only had two PPV bouts in 2013. But Taffet is responsible for the tone and tenor of much of HBO's shoulder program, such as "Faceoff," which helps increase boxer visibility.
No. 16 Jim Lampley (L) and No. 7 Ken Hershman pose for a photo. (Getty)
20. Brad Goodman, matchmaker, Top Rank – The joke about Goodman is that he doesn't know who the vice president of the U.S. is, but he knows the best four-round fighters in Belize.
19. Bruce Trampler, matchmaker, Top Rank – Trampler is the gold standard for matchmakers and is justifiably in the Hall of Fame. Many great fighters of the modern era, including Oscar De La Hoya and Floyd Mayweather Jr., owe much to Trampler for the way he matched them on the way up.
Twitter: @BruceTrampler
18. Eric Gomez, matchmaker, Golden Boy Promotions – Gomez is the man who makes the majority of the fights fans see on Showtime. He knows how to put together fighters who will bring out the best in each other and that makes great television.
Twitter: @makeawar
17. Egis Klimas, manager – Klimas manages WBO light heavyweight champon Sergey Kovalev and IBF featherweight champion Evgeny Gradovich, but his true star is Vasyl Lomachenko, the two-time gold medalist and superstar in the making. Klimas has a lot of talent up and down his roster. He's already a big player and will increase in scope soon.
16. Jim Lampley, broadcaster, HBO Sports – Lampley is HBO's long-time play-by-play man, and recently added a show about boxing, "The Fight Game," to his work. Lampley is the most-heard announcer and thus can shape the way fans see the fights. His show has much potential, but needs to be knocked up a few levels and Lampley has to abandon the reliance on the same few interview subjects to make the show more compelling and worthwhile.
15. James Prince, manager – Prince is the manager of a number of fighters, including Andre Ward. Prefers to stay out of the limelight, but is effective and does well for his clients.
14. Michael Koncz, manager – Koncz is Manny Pacquiao's chief adviser, and saw one of his long-time dreams come true in November when Top Rank promoted a Pacquiao pay-per-view in China.
Manny Pacquiao's fight in Macau was very popular on an international level. (Getty)
13. Cameron Dunkin, manager – Dunkin has a keen eye for talent and a deep crew, topped by Timothy Bradley and Brandon Rios.
Twitter: @MickeyFelix
12. Manny Pacquiao, boxer – Pacquiao's influence in the business is diminishing, as he isn't quite the star he once was, but he remains a powerful figure and you can bet that Top Rank and HBO executives jump when he speaks.
Twitter: @MannyPacquiao
11. Ed Tracy, CEO, Sands China – Tracy gave the go-ahead to spend significant money with Top Rank to bring boxing to China. The result was three shows in 2013, culminating with a Manny Pacquiao pay-per-view bout in November. There will be regular fights in Sands China casinos in 2014 and beyond and Tracy is at the forefront of it.